No Nanny State - Molon Labe!

Damn, I'm good.....

Exactly a month ago, I posted a piece on how, "our 'No Water On The Plane Because They Might Be Bombs' rule will be largely dismantled within the next 30 days". OK, I was off by one day.

Travelers will again be able to put shampoo, toothpaste and other liquids and gels in their carry-ons and take them through airport security checkpoints starting Tuesday.

This just kills me (pun intended). If they are truly dangerous, you don't EVER let them back on. If they're not dangerous, you buck up, say you made an honest mistake, and allow the stuff back on the planes.

In what the government is calling a new "bag and zip" policy, the new rules, announced Monday by the Transportation Security Administration, will allow travel-sized toiletries of three ounces or less (typical drug-store sample sizes) through security and aboard airplanes.

Here's the kicker....

Passengers can bring liquids or gels of any size in checked baggage, and Peppin said that checking items is still the easiest way for most people to go.

So, of you're going to bring explosive on the plane, just make sure you use your checked baggage?! The TSA seems to think that these terrorists care whether they destroy a plane by blowing up the cabin area or the cargo bay.

Well, I sure feel safer. You?

If I didn't live here, I'd be laughing my ass off...

The stupidity and myopic methodology of the government of The People's Republic of California continues to astound me as it reaches new heights of absurdity.

Our Top Cop - Attorney General Bill Lockyer - is suing 6 major car manufacturers because their cars..... contribute to Global Warming. I shit you not.

California's attorney general on Wednesday sued the six largest U.S. and Japanese automakers, including GM, Ford and Toyota, for damages related to greenhouse-gas emissions.

The federal lawsuit alleges that emissions from their vehicles have harmed Californians' health, damaged the environment and cost the state millions of dollars to combat their effects.

I'm not even going to comment on the ass-hattedness of this lawsuit. It's simply THE most egregious waste of taxpayer money I may have ever witnessed.

No, I want to talk about what the logical result would be should the state be successful.

"It's part of a strategy to address global warming," Attorney General Bill Lockyer said in an interview. "The goal of this one is to hold these automobile manufacturers accountable for the monies taxpayers are spending to address these harms."

So, the plan is to punish businesses which contribute to greenhouse gases. That would mean that under the Equal Protection clause, the state MUST also go after any other businesses or industries which also contribute.

Clearly, we must shut down every coal, gas or oil-fired turbine operated by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E - the predominant Northern California "electric" company), Edison Electric (LA area) and San Diego Gas and Electric. The amounts of carbon dioxide they spew into the air is enormous.

Similarly, we must ban all semi-trailer trucks and rail road locomotives because of similar concerns. Now, because we won't have any electricity after shutting down the electrical generators, the electric locomotives won't be an issue.

Additionally, all personal automobiles must be banned because of their total disregard for the environment. Horrific is the only word that adequately describes their contribution.

One of the things we need to figure out, though, is how to stop the dirty air from our neighbor states - Oregon, Nevada and Arizona - from entering our state. We'll probably have to sue them, too. It's the right thing to do.

Of course having no cars, trucks, trains and electricity will pose a couple of problems. We'll have to grow everything we eat, here in state. It's tough getting horse-drawn wagons over the Sierra Nevada mountains, especially in the winter (see, "The Donner Party"). Bill's a smart guy, so I'm sure he'll figure that one out.

In reality, I don't give a shit about this. It is just another reason for me and my wife to leave this cesspool of a state. In a 2 or 3 years, I'll be gone, taking my salary and eventually my retirement money, and I'll be spending it somewhere other than California. I'm going to set up a beach chair and watch this state shrivel up and blow away in the clean, clear, carbon dioxide-free air.

What's that sucking sound I hear?

This morning while getting ready for work, the TV was on. It was Linda Ellerbee in some feel-good chat with a bunch of Hispanic kids. All of the kids kept parroting the "ethnic pride" and "Hispanic pride" pablum. I made a comment to my wife (who is half Mexican) that I didn't understand how anyone could have pride in something in which they had no contribution. If you're Mexican (or Irish or whatever) it just "is". You can't change it or make it better or worse, it is simply a genetic fact.

She got real quiet.

I got to work and had this little email message:

This morning when you said you didn't understand the pride issue. Many groups are stereotyped into believing they're are the scum of the earth. Wetbacks, illegals, Latin lovers, etc. So what they were talking about this morning is there are others who have made great contributions to our society and we should be proud of the people who have contributed. Pride is something everyone should feel no matter who you are. WE all can be and do great things. Breaking the stereotypes so the younger generation will have the desire to be more.

I agree we should be one group as Americans, but I don't see much pride being taught or practice in our culture of American.

Just some thoughts.

As you shall see, I went off. That is such a passive "I have no control" attitude. Not acceptable.

It goes back to, "how can you be proud about something over which you had no control or influence?" You can have pride in the accomplishments of your child because you raised them well. You can have pride in your softball team because you contributed to its success. How can you be proud of being ethnically German, or ethnically Mexican, or gay? These things just "are". Nothing you can do will change that fact.

You can be proud to be an American citizen, or Mexican citizen because that is something to which you can contribute, and change if you wish.

Who's fault is it for believing they are scum? And what new ethnic group has not had that happen (not saying it's right, just that it has always been there in every country in the world). The Irish Micks. The Viet Namese Gooks. The German Krauts. The Italian Wops.

Everyone of them chose to assimilate into America. Or go hungry. And everyone of those ethnic groups now thrives in America. But they're American, first, German second. The current Special Interest groups now seem intent on segregating themselves instead of integrating.

To me, this is just more of the "we are here, so we can take credit" mentality. It breeds "average". Instead of an individual having to find their God-given skill, the attitude is "everyone can do anything". No you can't, actually. You have the opportunity to do anything, but you may not have the necessary skills or aptitude. We saw it with the Peanut League (ed. A local version of Little League) philosophy of "just show up and you get a trophy" instead of "be the best and get rewarded". It's why this country is becoming so mediocre - people expect to be rewarded just for being there.

And you're very right, American culture is being disintegrated. Instead of immigrants assimilating into, and becoming part of our culture, they are being ENCOURAGED to remain separate and distinct, racially. Want to vote? Would you like the Spanish, Korean or Cantonese version of the ballot? Need legal disclosures for your bank account? Which language would you prefer? It's everywhere. Hospitals, restaurants, airports, bookstores, gas stations, dry cleaners - the list is endless. The voting one really gets me, because you can't vote unless you're a citizen, and you can't be a citizen unless you can speak English, so why the need for the multi-lingual ballots?

I've gotta go, but thanks for getting my blood pumping this morning!

My wife just called a few minutes ago and complimented my debating skills! I laughed my ass off. Her background is from the "poor side of town" and she will occasionally fall back into the "victim" frame of mind, usually when some shit is happening at work.

She's a grade school teacher and a lot of her kids come from disfunctional (in every sense of the word) families. She doesn't take one little bit of whining from them about how hard it is. She's got stories of growing up that would curl your hair. Yet, she found a way to put herself through college to better her lot. She's would not allow herself to become a victim.

My baby done good! She just needs a kick in the butt on occasion (who doesn't?!)

I guess I shouldn't be surprised...

Nearly a month ago, I wrote this letter to one of my senators, Diane Feinstein. I covered 4 specific issues, one of which was the proposed increase in the federal minimum wage. I wrote:

1. Minimum wage. Perhaps you could point out the Article in the Constitution that allows the federal government to involve itself in the setting of wages of a business. You, and those like you, seem to think that setting an artificial minimum wage will help lift lower paid workers out of poverty. Hello!? You seem to think that a small business has a certain number of positions open, to be filled at whatever wage the government sets. People in the real world understand that a small business has a limited amount of money to spend on wages. If you tap too deeply into that pool of wage dollars, it will result in that business having to fire workers (or not hire others) to ensure they have funds to keep the business profitable. Great idea, if you dislike poor people.

I made a note at the end of the letter that I "wasn't holding my breath" that she'd respond. Imagine my surprise when yesterday, Di Fi wrote me back! Now, I don't know if I should be offended, but, well, uhm, I don't think she really read it. In fact, I don't think anyone actually read my letter. I think they scanned their incoming email and assumed that anyone from California that would write to their senator about minimum wage would obviously be in favor of seeing an increase.

Here's her reply, in its entirety:

Dear Mr. The Other Mike S:

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for raising
the Federal minimum wage. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome
the opportunity to respond.

Like you, I support raising the minimum wage because I believe
all Americans should have the opportunity to maintain a reasonable
income level based on hourly earnings. To ensure minimum wage
earners are paid fairly, Congress should continue to evaluate and adjust
wages to account for economic growth, inflation, and increased costs
faced by minimum wage earners. It has now been nearly a decade since
the Federal minimum wage has increased. Therefore, it is no surprise
that a person earning minimum wage earns a mere $10,712 annually,
slightly above the Federal poverty level for a single person and below the
poverty level for families. It is simply not enough for American families.

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced the "Fair
Minimum Wage Act of 2005" (S. 1062) on May 18, 2005. This
legislation would provide for an incremental increase in the Federal
minimum wage to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 an hour. On June 19, 2006,
Senator Kennedy sponsored this legislation as an amendment to the
Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Authorization Bill, and while I supported the
amendment, it failed to receive the 60 votes necessary for passage.
Please know that I am a proud cosponsor of S. 1062 and will continue to
fight for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.

Once again, thank you for writing to me. I hope you will
continue to keep me informed on issues of importance to you. Should
you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to call
my Washington, D.C. staff at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.


Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

So, not only did she not read it, she tells me she's joining forces with the DUI Sentator from Mass. This is supposed to make me feel better?!

Our "representatives" have become so intoxicated with power that they can't even have some flunky intern take the time to actually read letters from their constituents. It makes me even more committed to my closing statement in the original letter:

It's because of meddling, Nanny-state bureaucrats such as yourself that the debt and size of our government are spiraling out of control. Tax and Spend Politicians (Dems and Repubs) will be booted from office, because we can't afford to keep you around. Enjoy your government pension.

She's made me an individual committed to her removal from office.

A letter sent today

I am saddened to see that a company such as yours would stoop to political correctness in regards to illegal aliens. Your sponsorship of any sort of rally or gathering which supports illegal aliens is shameful, disgusting, and quite un-American.

I, and everyone I will pass this along to, will never, EVER purchase or consume another Miller product until you publicly denounce illegal aliens and provide support to pro-American organizations, such as the Minuteman Project or other similar groups. These organizations are trying to help poor Americans and legal immigrants by keeping out illegals which artificially retard wage growth.

You are harming America with your support of these groups, and it won't be forgotten.

If you're sick and tired of feeling helpless about illegal immigration, click here and give Miller a piece of your mind, and pledge not to purchase their products until they change their ways. Vote with your pocketbook.

Hat Tip to Guy for the heads-up on this.